Classes of Stem Cells: From Biology to Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Adult tissues exhibit poor intrinsic regenerative capacity, limiting self-repair after injury or disease.
• Stem cells, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are recognized for their regenerative potential.
• Existing stem cell classes face challenges in clinical translation for musculoskeletal applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare four classes of stem cells: ESCs, MSCs, iPSCs, and the newly defined synthetic artificial stem cell (SASC).
• To discuss the applications of these stem cell classes in musculoskeletal regenerative engineering.
• To analyze the advantages, disadvantages, and clinical translation impact of each stem cell class.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review approach was employed.
• Literature search conducted using PubMed and bibliographic databases.
• Selection of relevant, high-cited articles for inclusion.

Main Results:

• Comparison of biologically derived (ESCs, MSCs) and engineered (iPSCs, SASC) stem cell classes.
• Detailed discussion of stem cell applications in musculoskeletal regenerative engineering.
• Summary of pros and cons for each stem cell type regarding clinical translation.

Conclusions:

• Each stem cell class presents unique advantages and disadvantages for preclinical and clinical use.
• Synthetic artificial stem cells (SASCs) are proposed as a novel, engineered therapeutic approach.
• SASCs may offer disease-modifying potential by mimicking the paracrine actions of endogenous stem cells for enhanced regeneration.